Inaugural MPA Hall of Excellence includes Brown, Littlefield, McGowan

By Staff | May 19, 2014

Augusta — The Maine Principals’ Association, in association with Lifetouch School Portraits, has announced its first class of inductees into the MPA Hall of Excellence.

The inductees, which include former Rockland District High School boys basketball coach Robert "Bob" Brown, former Searsport District High School teacher/coach Dwight Littlefield and former Camden-Rockport High School principal Horace McGowan, will be recognized at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center.

Robert “Bob” Brown — Coach Brown began his successful career in 1960 and 52 years later remains the heart and soul of Maine high school basketball. During his career he collected more than 600 wins and numerous regional and state championships. High school basketball players coached by Brown were not only better players, more knowledgeable of the game, but they were held to a higher standard. He is the leading resource and voice sought by coaches state-wide. Perhaps his being recognized on 21 different occasions as coach of the year states the level of respect he has earned. Brown has been inducted into seven hall of fames and has been recognized locally, state-wide, and nationally.

Dwight Littlefield — He began his teaching and coaching career in Searsport. He spent his final 31 years at Valley High School in Bingham. At Valley High School, he amassed 471 basketball victories and, at one point, from 1997-2002, he had a 101 game winning streak. His team was the admiration and inspiration state-wide. During that incredible run of success, Valley High achieved 21 conference championships, 16 Western Class D championships and six consecutive state Class D championships. Littlefield's quiet demeanor earned him respect from players, coaches and many school communities throughout Maine. He also has been inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.

Horace McGowan — He was always a strong advocate for education. He was a graduate of Houlton High School and the University of Maine. Over the course of his professional life, he served as principal at Princeton High School, at Porter High School, (now the present-day Sacopee Valley High School) and at Camden-Rockport High School. McGowan, who lives in Camden, worked as a consultant in the Maine Department of Education’s Division of Secondary Education working primarily with school accreditation. For 10 years he served as the executive director of the Maine Secondary School Principals’ Association, a forerunner of the MPA. His vision and leadership helped to create the framework for what that organization currently has in place. He was a member of the Maine Curriculum Committee. As well as his work here in Maine, he was active in the NASSP and was a member of the National Curriculum Advisory Board.